Venezuelan riot police drive off protesters with tear gas
Scott Smith | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 8 months AGO
Opposition protesters clash with police blocking their march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido is leading a march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
People run from tear gas fired by police dispersing an opposition march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido led the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A man kneels in front of police blocking a march called by opposition political leader Juan Guaido in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Guaido called for the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition political leader Juan Guaido greets a supporter as he prepares to leave after his march was blocked by police in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Guaido called for the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Opposition political leader Juan Guaido is surrounded by supporters during a march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Guaido called for the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A supporter of opposition political leader Juan Guaido hurls stones at police blocking a march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Guaido called for the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman yells in front of a line of police blocking an opposition march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido led the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
An opposition protester faces police blocking a march lead by Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Guaido's march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A police officer falls during clashes with supporters of opposition political leader Juan Guaido marching in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Guaido called for a march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
Venezuelan opposition political leader Juan Guaido speaks to supporters and opposition lawmakers after their march was blocked by police in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Guaido's march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A member of the opposition holds up her handcuffed hands as she joins the start of a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Her signs read in Spanish "No fear," and "Diosdado assassin," referring to ruling party politician Diosdado Cabello. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido will lead a march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A woman holds a sign that reads in Spanish "Coronavirus is Miraflores," referring to the presidential palace, as she joins the start of an opposition rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido will lead a march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A man wearing a shirt that reads in Spanish "Venezuela. Strength and faith." links arms with others at an opposition rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido will lead a march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A protester carries sign with the Spanish message "Going hungry" during an opposition march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido led the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering, but the march was blocked by police early in its route. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
A skeleton is covered with Venezuelans Bolivar bills to symbolize the devaluation of the currency and hunger, during an opposition march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. U.S.-backed Venezuelan political leader Juan Guaido led the march aimed at retaking the National Assembly legislative building, which opposition lawmakers have been blocked from entering, but the march was blocked by police early in its route. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Security forces fired tear gas Tuesday to repel an anti-government march led by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who is struggling to reignite street protests to capitalize on mounting international pressure on embattled socialist President Nicolás Maduro
Thousands of demonstrators assembled in a leafy, anti-government neighborhood of Caracas with the goal of taking back the National Assembly, the country's only opposition-dominated body whose chamber was seized over two months ago by a splinter faction of the opposition that claimed leadership of the legislature with the support of the ruling socialist party.
Many of the protesters were draped in the red, blue and yellow colors of Venezuela's flag and banged on pots to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the oil-rich nation. Smaller protests took place in several cities across Venezuela.
But riot police wielding heavy shields and backed by armored vehicles blocked their progress downtown, where masses of red-shirted state workers and Maduro supporters held their own rally to show support for the revolution begun by the late President Hugo Chavez.
“They try to intimidate us with weapons of war,” Guaidó said from a megaphone. “We’ll keep going until we reach our goal.”
Clashes broke out as protesters flung rocks and sticks at police, who responded with volleys of tear gas that scattered the marchers. Guaidó then led a smaller group that reconvened in a safer part of town for an impromptu, outdoor session of the National Assembly.
Addressing lawmakers, Guaidó repeated his refrain that the only solution to an economic and social crisis marked by hyperinflation and crumbling public services is free presidential elections.
But even some of his supporters are beginning to second guess that strategy. Henry Ramos, a lawmaker who heads the Democratic Action party, said that with a new presidential vote out of reach for now, it is time to start preparing for congressional elections that are scheduled for this year.
“What are we going to do? Stay at home and let the government grab the National Assembly?” Ramos said in a rare public break with Guaidó, who has ruled out participating in any legislative elections until the Maduro-stacked electoral council is overhauled.
Nearly 60 nations, led by the United States, recognize Guaidó, head of the congress, as Venezuela's legitimate leader because they view Maduro's 2018 re-election as fraudulent.
Guaidó initially drew wide support from huge crowds across Venezuela after he declared himself interim president last year based on a reading of the constitution that power should revert temporarily to the head of congress if the presidency is vacant.
But Maduro continues to hold all practical levers of power and Guaidós crowds have thinned in recent months. Tuesday's rally was seen as a key test of whether he could reignite demonstrations following an international tour that took him to the White House as well as meetings with the leaders of Britain, France and Canada.
Tuesday's mobilization was modest compared to a year ago, with some government critics staying home in fear of repression by security forces. Others stayed away because they have reconciled themselves to the imploded economy and are too busy trying to get ahead.
“Venezuelans might support Guaidó and oppose Maduro, but that does not mean they are going to spend their time and risk their well-being by mobilizing in the streets,” said David Smilde, a longtime Venezuela observer who teaches at Tulane University.
The country's political and economic crisis has driven more than 4.5 million Venezuelans to migrate from the once-wealthy South American nation, escaping soaring inflation, scarcity of basic goods and unreliable services, such as power and water.
Since returning to Caracas last month, Guaidó has been met with fierce resistance by armed civilians and security forces loyal to Maduro.
Just hours following the march, a special police unit arrested three opposition lawmakers allied with Guaidó at a Caracas hotel where they were staying. Two of them were released roughly an hour later.
Angel Torres, one of the two freed, said officials scolded them for their politics, took down their personal information and reviewed their cellphones. Torres said fellow lawmaker Renzo Prieto remained in custody.
Ongoing attacks drew condemnation early Tuesday from Michelle Bachelet, the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights, who said she was concerned about the arrest of opposition figures and recent attacks on demonstrators and journalists who covered Guaidó's return to Caracas.
She said in a statement that her office continues to receive allegations of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" at military counterintelligence prisons.
At the pro-government rally in Caracas, Maduro ally and powerful socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello criticized Bachelet, saying she lacks “moral authority" to criticize Venezuela's administration. He said Bachelet, a former Chilean president, has turned a blind eye to violent protests recently in her homeland as well as violence in Colombia.
Cabello also said the socialist government doesn't care whether or not the opposition competes in the legislative elections.
“If the right wants to participate totally or partially in parliamentary elections, that's their problem,” Cabello said. “The revolutionary force, yes, we'll participate in parliamentary elections.”
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Associated Press writers Fabiola Sánchez and Jorge Rueda contributed to this report.